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AN 



EFISTLE 



FROM THE 



YEARLY ]fI££TII¥G OF FRIENDS, 

HELD 
XZr PEZZiADEXiPHZA, 

By adjournments from the 9th day of the 4th month to tho 
J4th of the same, inclusive, 1832, 

TO THE 

PEOPLE OF COLOUR 

RESIDING IN PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, 
AND PARTS ADJACENT. 






PHILADELPHIA.' 
Printed by J. Richards, 13 Church Alley. 

1832. 



It. 



EN5 



Gift 
W. L. Shoataak»r 

7 % 'oe 



^O-'^oSs 



EPISTLE 

FROM THE 

YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS, 

HELD IN PHILADELPHMt 

By adjournments from the 9th day of the 4th month to the 
l4th of the same, inclusive, 1832, 

TO THE 

M^EOJPJLE OF COJLOrR 

RESIDING IN PENNSYLVANIA, &c/ 



It is with feelings of brotherly and Christian 
sympathy, that we are engaged to address you 
at this time, to encourage you to bear up un- 
der the difficulties and trials which surround 
you. 

Our forefathers took a deep interest in the 
afflictions of your forefathers: they laboured 
faithfully in pleading their cause, and often 
stood forth as mouth for the dumb. The 
same feelino: remains among us who are their 



descendants. It has solemnly spread over this 
meeting at this time, and under its influence 
we now address you. 

Although dangers may threaten, and dark 
clouds may hang over you, and you may feel 
great discouragements, especially in perceiving 
a disposition in some to pass oppressive laws 
against you — when you look as on the right 
hand, you may fear there is none to help, and 
on the left, there is none to uphold, — ^yet re- 
member that the Lord on high is mightier than 
the noise of many waters, yea, even than the 
raging waves of the sea; and if you are stea- 
dily concerned to walk before Him in innocen- 
cy and uprightness of heart, he will be to you 
a never failing friend and helper in the time of 
your distress. 

We earnestly desire that you may be in- 
creasingly concerned, that your lives and con- 
versation among men may be such as become 
the professors of the name of Christ; ever 
bearing in mind, that the blessed Saviour was 
a perfect example of meekness, gentleness, and 
patience, under trial and deep suffering. When 
he was spit upon and reviled, he reviled not 
again, but returned blessing for cursing. He 



was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with 
grief. And so far from being among the rich 
and the great of this world, he declared of 
himself, " The foxes have holes, and the birds 
of the air have nests; but the son of man hath 
not where to lay his head." 

It has been cause of great comfort to us to 
be informed, that among the people of colour 
residing in Philadelphia and its neighbourhood, 
a large number are conducting in a manner 
highly satisfactory to their friends. We find 
that many of you are industriously and honest- 
ly engaged in different callings, are bringing 
up your famihes wdth reputation, and are giv- 
ing a good education to your children. We 
also learn, that by the formation of numerous 
societies among yourselves, for mutual assist- 
ance in times of sickness and distress, you 
extend aid to each other; and hence prevent 
many from becoming a burden to the pubhc. 

To such of you, especially, as are parents, 
we desire to hold forth encouragement to per- 
severe in giving useful learning to your chil- 
dren to fit them for business. And may you 
be careful, by precept and example, to bring 
them up in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord, Ask counsel of Him to show you how 



'* 



6 

to go in and out before your tender offsprings 
so that you may be enabled to raise them up 
in all godliness and honesty — that they may 
become respectable and useful members of the 
community, and may prove a comfort to your 
declining years. 

To your children and youth, we feel en- 
gaged to offer a word of tender counsel. We 
would say to them, " Remember your Creator 
in the days of your youth." Honour your 
fathers and mothers. Cultivate love and kind- 
ness to each other in your families. Keep 
strictly to truth, honesty, and sobriety. Be 
respectful and courteous in your deportment. 
Be industrious, — remembering that now while 
you are young is the all-important time to ob- 
tain useful learning, and for the formation of 
sound principles and correct habits. Thus as 
you become obedient children of the Lord, and 
of your parents, the Divine blessing will de- 
scend upon you. 

And now, with another class we are engaged 
to expostulate, and to plead with them on be- 
half of their own souls. To you who give 
way to temptation, and lead an evil course of 
Hfe — Oh ! that we could avaihngly entreat you, 



solemnly to pause — to consider your ways, 
and be wise. Experience must have shown you 
that " the way of the transgressor is hard." 
Look around upon your sober and exemplary 
neighbours, — see the comfort and happiness 
which they enjoy, — compare their peaceful 
homes with the vice and misery to be seen 
in yours ! And further remember, that unless 
you are favoured to experience repentance 
and amendment of life, an awful judgment will 
await you in the w orld to come ! While your 
reproachful conduct is cause of deep distress 
to your best friends, it gives occasion to those 
who are watching over you for evil, to tell 
them that the People of Colour are not fit to 
be free men and women. It grieves the hearts 
of your innocent and sober neighbours of your 
own colour, who have sorely to feel the effects 
of your evil conduct; and it has a tendency to 
rivet the fetters more strongly on your afflict- 
ed brethren and sisters who are still groaning 
in bondage. Return, then, we entreat you ; — 
repent, and live in a sober, honest, orderly, 
and exemplary manner. 

Finally, we desire to encourage all to put 
their trust and confidence in our Heavenly 
Father, who sleeps not by day, nor slumbers 



/ 



8 

by night; but who numbers the very hairs of 
our heads. 

May you remember, that his arm is not 
shortened that it cannot save — nor his ear 
heavy that it cannot hear; but, for the cries 
of the poor and the afflicted, he will arise with 
healing in his wings. Righteousness will yet 
overspread the nations, and the prediction of 
the holy prophet will assuredly be fulfilled : 
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my 
holy mountain : for the earth shall be full of 
the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover 
the sea." 

Then indeed the cry of the oppressed shall 
cease — the now bleeding Ethiopia, shall avail- 
ingly stretch out her hands unto God, and that 
glorious day will arrive when the kingdoms of 
this world shall become the kingdoms of our 
Lord and of his Christ. 

Signed by direction and on behalf of the 
Meeting, by 

JOHN COMLY, 

Clerk of the Men^s Meeting, 

DEBORAH F. WHARTON, 

Clerk of the Women'' s Meeting. 






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